Posted on 07/31/2006 7:29:53 PM PDT by doug from upland
Edited on 08/01/2006 3:49:21 PM PDT by Admin Moderator. [history]
If someone can get me the address, this will be sent from my card service, SendOutCards.com.
Can we all sign the card?.......regards, Mystery-ak....lol
Cuba's President Fidel Castro smiles while speaking to the crowd during an event in Havana in this April 29, 2006 file photo. Castro underwent intestinal surgery on July 31, 2006 and delegated government functions provisionally to his younger brother Raul Castro, the government said in a televised statement signed by the Cuban leader. REUTERS/Claudia Daut/Files (CUBA)
To Fidel: I hope that you DO get your bowels in an uproar!
For some reason I keep thinking of a card that says something like: "Eat $hit and Die, you commie puke!"
On a cheery note, intestinal bleeding is commonly due to cancer of one sort or another, not "stress" as is claimed. If it is cancer, in tribute to Castro's politics, we may hope that it will be highly "progressive."
There are only a few people who deserve to receive such a card. Fidel Castro is one of those people. Saddam Hussein is one. Kim Jong-il is one. The Iranian mullahs are on the list as are the leaders of terrorist organizations such as Hezbollah. Hillary Clinton, Cindy Sheehan, Michael Moore, Howard Dean, John Kerry, Dan Rather, George Soros, and Katie Couric are getting close, but they would still get a card of compassion and well wishes. Yeah, we might as well put Nancy Pelosi and the leadership of the ACLU on the getting close list. And the gay fascists who are trying to destroy the Boy Scouts.
Castro's brother always by his side
Siblings share ideology but have different personalities
Monday, July 31, 2006; Posted: 10:41 p.m. EDT (02:41 GMT)
(CNN) -- Smaller, less of an ideologue and less charismatic than Fidel Castro, Raul Castro has nonetheless known for years that he was the man designated to take over from his older brother.
For years Raul Castro has talked about a post-Fidel Cuba under his leadership.
"Is there going to be a transition here towards something? Yes, towards a better form of socialism, and here's something you'll like: towards a more democratic society," Raul Castro has said.
But exactly what he means by more democratic is unclear.
Fidel Castro was undergoing intestinal surgery and provisionally handed over power to Raul, according to a statement read on Cuban television Monday night.
Both brothers were born in Mayari, Cuba, the sons of a Spanish immigrant who became a rich landowner, and the housemaid he eventually married.
Raul Castro was always by his brother's side, beginning with the 1950s uprising that brought Fidel Castro to power.
Since 1959, he has been Cuba's powerful minister of defense. He is also the first vice president of the Council of State and is the next in line to take over from Fidel Castro in case of death.
Different personalities
The two brothers share the same ideology but have very different personalities.
Raul Castro is said to have a more common touch and be more pragmatic than Fidel Castro.
After the collapse of the Soviet Union, which left Cuba on the brink of bankruptcy and starvation, it was Raul Castro who insisted on allowing free-enterprise farmers' markets.
He declared that "beans have as much importance as cannons, if not more."
While Fidel Castro is rather stiff, Raul Castro is more down to earth, enjoying parties and always joking, according to those who've known him well.
Still, in many ways he is seen as more of a hard-liner than Fidel Castro.
During the early years of the revolution, Raul Castro earned a reputation for being ruthless with his enemies. That reputation remains, and many Cubans say it makes them afraid of how he might rule once in power.
Raul Castro has said that Fidel Castro would be a hard act to follow.
"No one will ever again have as much authority as Fidel Castro has had, because of who he is, because he made a true revolution," Raul Castro said.
Raul Castro is only five years younger than Fidel Castro and plagued by rumors about his own health.
Still, he says he will rule alongside the Communist Party, which he says is the only thing that can guarantee continuity.
Just in case, Raul Castro would also have the power of the military behind him.
There once was a man named Fidel,
For whom was reserved a special place in Hell,
Many innocents he did kill,
While for Russia he did shill,
For this operation, we do not wish him to get well.
Doug--my tribute to that cigar smoking, green cap wearing SOB!
His name was Peter...no friend of Castro
One day some spooks were at his door...he asked what they were there for
An operation...they thought he'd like it
They told him it was very slick...disappearing coffee trick
They said, "What do you say...we need your help today"
Peter thought it was quite intriguing...he was on his way
Fidel Castro, down in Havana
When he found out, he went bananas
Fidel Castro, relieved of money
Somehow he didn't think it was so funny
Fidel Castro...got taken good
The phantom cargo needed a freighter
They purchased an old one that sucks...just 800,000 bucks
The deal's in motion out on the ocean
The plan was going very well, but it soon would go to hell
They failed to bribe one guy...and the plan went awry
When they couldn't scuttle the freighter, then down came the sky
Fidel Castro, down in Havana
When he found out, he went bananas
Fidel Castro, relieved of money
Somehow he didn't think it was so funny
Fidel Castro...got taken good
(musical break)
Fidel exploded...he lost a bundle
He didn't get his coffee beans...and you should have heard him scream
"Who did this to me? Who would dare screw me?
I'll get the guy who pulled this off...at me the whole world has scoffed
I want the bastard shot...get the best men we've got"
But in a parking lot by the airport, Peter foiled the plot
Fidel Castro, down in Havana
When he found out, he went bananas
Fidel Castro, relieved of money
Somehow he didn't think it was so funny
Fidel Castro...got taken good...got taken good
Will there be numerous threads with rumours of his death, ala Arafat?
I have a feeling we will hear about this right away. There will be great cheering in Miami.
Jim told you "enough with the e-bay".
Many people on FR have told me enough of you.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.